Abstract: The present invention provides a safer way to intubate patients having communicable diseases, such as bacterial and viral infections. It protects health care professionals performing the intubation from bodily fluids of the patients that might otherwise be projected directly onto them by coughing, gagging, vomiting, or sneezing. Additionally, it traps airborne suspensions or aerosols containing pathogens, such as bacterial, myco-bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, originating from the patient and keeps them from entering into the air in close proximity to the healthcare professionals. The contaminated air can then be vented to a location which is away from personnel, such as an outdoor containment area. In one embodiment of this invention the contaminated air is passed through a disinfecting solution which destroys the pathogens before the air is recycled into the environment, such as the room where the intubation is carried out.